Today (16th October 2009) is the 119th anniversary of the birth of Michael Collins. As we prepare to post a new range of topics I thought it might make sense to pause and appreciate Collins' attributes and to encourage those who have yet to read our articles about him to do so.

For those who know little to nothing about Collins, you should start with Chrissy Osborne's short life here. If you are looking for some more speculative pieces, John McGuirk's consideration of Collins' view of Europe is enlightening. If you seek a good book on an aspect of Collins' life, then you might be well served by the review of Michael Collins: The Man Who Won The War.

If you are seeking to read some of Collins' own words, then you could do worse than read Path To Freedom, Collins' own words written in support of the Treaty with Great Britain. The General Michael Collins site, hosted by the Collins 22 Society have a linked version of the book online here.

Eoin